Corn-husking machine



Sept. 10, 1929. v Q T HQWSQN 1,727,507

CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7N, Q /y. i

f if .16 H' sa Sept. 10, 1929. c. T. HowsoN I 1,727,507

CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. l0, 1929. C, T. HowsQN CORN HUSKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet #11655 J J obers i Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

llhll'i'i STATES CHARLES T. HOWSON, OF SILVER CREEK, YORK.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINE.

Original application filed April 17, 1920, Serial No. 374,682. Dvde and this application filed November My invention relates to improvements in corn huslringg machines, and inore particularly to the feeding and batting mechanism olf such machines.

lllhis application is a division of iny application :tor patent filed ,April 17, 1920, Serial No. 37114382, allowed. inne 5, 1925.

This invention has for one of its objects, to equip a machine olf this type with means whereby the ears oiE corn are drawn into the machine and accurately positioned 'for buttinsg, with assurance that the butt oi' each ear will be in proper position to be severed 'from the remainder of the ear.

Another object oit iny invention is to construct a n'iaehine ot this hind with a table at the top so that a delivery bin can be built over the table and deliver the ears of Corn thereon and so that the operator can feed the ears oi' corn into the machine in quick succession, with the butts thereof either to the right or lett, dope" ding` on the location of the cutting or hoisting ineoha.lsin.

i'knother object oi niy invention is to provide ainaehine with a feed tube or chute equipped with ineens to hold back all the ears oft corn but one, and allow only one ear at a tinie to be delivered to the ieeding rnecham nisni.

Another object oit iny invention is to provide new and improved liiositioning; or placer means, where by the ears of corn are properly positioned aA d retained in proper position ,within the n'iachine While they are traveling tl 1e reti i r ou gli it 'tiiirther object oit iny invention is to provide an adjustable sectional guide, so as to adapt the machine ior use in diiierent territories, this being highly desirable due to the fact that in seine sections of the country, coinpi ratively sniali ears of corn are grown, while in others, corn is grown to a comparatively large size.

n still :tin'ther object of my invention is to provide a sectional guide, which is yielding-ly positioned so that ears of corn of dif- ;"erent si es can be passed through the niael e without the possibility ot' the smaller ears inrwinqt laterally through the machine and thus result in unnecessarily large por- Serial No. 66,5337.

tions oi the ears being cut away, or even in the ears being` passed completely through the guide.

lilith the above and other objects in view to appear hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel 'features olf construction and in the conibin ation and arrangement oit mechanisms and parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

ln the drawings zd Figs. 1 and 2 are opposite side views 0i the upper portion of a corn husking machine in 'which 'this invention is embodied.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

l? l is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 4me, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line -V, Fig. t.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section tal-Ien on line 6(3, Fig. 5, the presser plates and springs and the upper section oit the gage or guide being' omitted.

7 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 7M?, Fig. 3,

8 is alongitudinal section through a portion of the positioning` or placer mecha- 1115111.

Fig. S) is a sectional perspective view oit the upper section of the adjustable guide.

The niaehine has a s i ble traine 10, ot which the upper portion only is shownf This traine comprises two connected side ineinbers 11, 12, each oi which, for convenience in casting; and shipigiing, is toi-ined in two parts 13, l/l, only a portion ot each ot the parts 14; being' shown. rlhe parts 13 are bolted or otherwise secured to the upper edges of the parts 11i at one `end thereof, as at 15.

The side ineinbers may therefore be said to have ui'iper traine parts and lower 'traine parts. The side nienibers may be held in spaced relation by ineens et tie bolts, cross inoinbers or other like elements commonly einployed for such purpose.

its there are various revoluble parts einployed in this hashing machine, l inount a main or driving` shaft 16 in the lower traine parts 14. near one end thereof, and to this shaft a driving pulley 17 is secured. From this shaft, husking mechanism arranged between the two frame parts 14 is operated; also, directly or indirectly, various operating parts herein shown and described. The husking mechanism referred to is omitted, owing to the fact that it forms no part of this divisional application.

Secured to the upper edges of the side members 11 and 12 of the frame, is a receivingtable 13 onto which the ears of corn are to be delivered from a hopper, bin or other means, and at the front end of this table, a rearwardly and downwardly inclined feed tube or chute 19 is provided.

The front end ofthe overhanging portion of the frame is closedv by a wall 2O conforming in shape to the formation of the overhanging ends of the upper frame parts 13. r1`his wall is extended upwardly a distance above the tube or chute 19, as at 21, to serve 'as a stop or abutment for the ears of corn drawn from the table 18 into said tube or chute.

Between the two upper parts 13 of the side members 11 and 12, a feed table 22 is arranged which is fastened to said parts 13 and has transverse slots 23 formed therein, the side walls of said slots diverging downwardly so that 'the slots are of substantially inverted V-formation in cross section. The feed table 22 extends from apoint beneath the tube or chute 19 to the rear ends' of the upper parts 13 of said side'members 11, 12. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, this table .has an elevated portion disposed between its side edges, and in'this elevated portion, which is continued from front to rear of the table, said transverse slots 23 are arranged. Said slots, however, eXtend only along `a portion of the length of this elevated portion, as best shown in Fig. 5.

24 designates an endless feeding device comprising two endless sprocket chains 25 which pass around sprocket wheels 26, 27, fastened to transversely-disposed shafts 28,

29. The sprocket wheels 26 are spaced apart `chainsbeing paired and' having transverse bars or feeders 31 secured thereto. Said bars or feeders, of course, form part of said endless feeding device and travel over said table in a rearward direction and in slightly spaced. relation thereto, and they also travel beneath said table at a somewhat greater distance therefrom.

rlhe feeding device 24 is adapted to cause the ears of corn delivered onto the feed table 22 from the feed tube or chute 19 to be moved rearwardly over said table and be delivered from the rear end of the same into a delivery chute 32 Idirected downwardly and adapted to deliver the ears of corn onto husking mechanism, preferably disposed directly beneath said endless feeding mechanism.

rlhe ears of corn delivered onto the receiving table 13 are directed into the feed tube or chute 19 by an operator stationed at the front end of the machine, and while directing the ears of corn into said tube or chute they are all positioned with their butts to the right. TlWhen thus positioned th ey gravitate through said chute and are delivered onto the feed table 22 where they are drawn rearwardly from the endless feeding device 24:. By means of suitable placer mechanism, to be presently described, the ears of corn are all moved toward the right and retained against a gage or guide 33, which receives support from hangers 34 fastened to the receiving table 13. rlhe ears of corn are therefore delivered from the feed table 22 into the delivery chute 32 from which latter they pass on to the hnsking mechanism.

YWith. a view of assuring the delivery of a single ear of corn at a time onto the feed table 22. a gate 35 is hinged to the rear wall of the tube or chute 19, and this gate is provided with means to create friction against the gravitating oars of corn, or with means to engage the corn in such a manner as to assure retention of all of the ears of corn passing through the chute 19, exceptin g one only.

In areferred form this gate has on its front face a number of upwardly curved prongs 3G, and to its rear face a metallic bar or other element 37 is secured to furnish he proper weight to keep the gate in its lowermost or normal position. This gate may be referred to as ret-arding or regulating means, and it will be noticed that by applying suoli retarding or regulating means to the lower end of the tube or chute 1S), one ear of corn will be delivered between adjacent bars or feeders 31 of the feeding device as they travel underneath the tube or chute, assurance being had that a continuous 'feeding of corn through the machine takes place with an ear of corn in each space between adjacent bars or feeders.

Associated with the feed table 22 and coacting with the, transverse slots 23 therein is what l term Placer mechanism, which, in its preferred form, comprises a transverselydisposed frame 33 having two spaced bars 39 to which a flat wooden member 40 is bolted or otherwise secured. On said wooden member, a plate of sheet metal l1 is fastened, with the marginal portions thereof bent downwardly, as at 42, the downwardly bent iso rlongitudinal bar 7l supporting the abutting will be found that some of the ears are of greater diameter than others, and by having the upper section of the gage or guide made of a plurality of independently movable parts, or more particularly self-adjusting parts movable in ay plane perpendicular to the feed table 22, one part willassume a different position than another when the ears of corn in contact therewith are of different diameters, and consequently a small ear may immediately follow a larger ear with full assurance that the gage or guide will properly hold the ears in place while traveling rearwardly along the feed table 22.

Extending transversely above 'the feed table 22 and directly in rear of the regulating gate 35 are pivoted presser plates 79, the pifvots of ythese plates being journaled in hangers at opposite sides of the m. chine. n rear of said presserplates a plurality of eXible presser velements in the form of presser springs 8l are provided, said presser springs being inclined downwardly and rearwardly'from their front ends and having at their front ends upwardly directed portions 82 fastened between transverse bars 83 secured to opposite side members, or otherwise. yllhe pivoted presser plates 7 9 and the presser springs 81 act against the ears of corn positioned between the ytransverse bars or feeders 31 of the feeding'device andhold said ears in proper position so as to cause the butts thereof tomove against the rotating vknife or cutter 59. rl`he butts are severed from the remainder of the ears of corn and delivered into a chute 84 opening at its upper end adjacent said knife or cutter and discharging at a lower point of the machine in any suitable manner.

As stated', a bevel gear wheel 63 is secured to one end of the shaft 28. vrllo the other end thereof a sprocket wheel 85 is secured around which sprocket chain 86 is passed which is utilized to operate other parts of the machine situated in a lower plane and `forming lno part of this divisional application.

rlhe operation of the device is :as follows:

The ears of corn delivered onto the receiving table 18 are drawn forwardly by an operator stationed at the front of the -machine and are positioned with butts at one side of the machine. ln the particular machine shown in the drawings, the ears would be positioned with the butts to the right to allow them to pass downwardly through the chute 19. The'ears of corn are engaged one at a time by the regulating means 35 so that they are delivered successively tothe spaces between the transverse bars or feeders Blof the endless feeding device with their axes transversely disposed and the butts to the right.

Vhile the ears of corn are traveling rearwardly, they are engaged by the placer Imechanism and forced laterally into position `.the presser plates 79 bear down upon the ears of corn and serve to retain the ears while traveling rearwardly in placed position. As the corn leaves the gage Orguide 33 and passes beyond the placer mechanism, it is retained in position by the presser springs S1 and while so retained the ears of corn are brought into contact with the butting mechanism and more particularly, with the peripheral edge ofthe rotatable knife or cutter 59. The butts with the stalks, if any thereon, are severed from the remainder of the ears by the butting mechanism, the butts entering the upper open end of the chute 84 and by it being directed downwardly to be discharged from the machine in any approved manner. The ears of corn with the butts removed therefrom continue on their course disposed in transverse positions, and are deliveredfrom the feeding device into the upper end of the chute 32 by means of which they are passed to the husking mechanism, where the husks are removed from the corn and discharged in any suitable manner and the ears of corn freed of husks preferably also of silk, are discharged from the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A cornhusker comprising a feed table, feeding mechanism, a guide associated with `said feed table and feeding mechanism and along which the butt ends ofv ears of corn are adapted to travel, said guide being at least in part self-adjustable in a plane perpendicular to said table, andmeans for placing said ears of corn for butting operation.

2. AA corn husker, comprising a feed table,

'feedingmechanism causing ears of corn to travellengthwise over said table while disposed transversely thereon, and means eX- tending` upwardly through said table for successively moving the ears ofcorn laterally to place the butt ends thereof into corresponding positions for butting operation.

3. A corn husker, comprisino` a feed table, feeding mechanism for causing ears of corn to move along said table in one direction, and

`a placer device extending upwardly through said table and movable in a vertical plane to engage and force the ears of corn in another direction so as to place the butt ends of said ears of corn in corresponding positions for butting operation.

4. A corn husker, comprising a feed table having an opening therethrough, feeding lli) mechanism serving to move ears of corn disposed parallel alongT said tablea a movable element extending upwardly through the opening in said table and l'iaving engaging snrface to engage and move said ears of corn lengthwise so as to place the b att ends thereof in alinement, and means for batting the ears of corn while so placed.

5. A corn hnslrer corn L feeding n'ieclninism, a guide associated with said table and feeding mechanism einbodying means in its construction to canse ears ofcorn to travel in a straight line and along which the batt ends of ears of corn are adapted to travel7 said guide being at least in part self-adjustable in a plane perpendicular to said feed table.

5. A corn hnslier comprising a feeding mechanism. and a sectional guide associated with said feeding mechanism and along which the butt ends of ears of corn are adapted to travel, each section of the guide beingl independently movable in a plane perpendicular to said feeding mechaiiiism.

7. A corn hnslrer comprisingl feeding mechanism and a sectional guide along which. the butt ends of ears of corn are adapted to travel, said guide being at least in part self-adjustable in a plane perpendicnlar to said feeding mechanism and the rela tive adjustment of the sections of said guide being according to the diameters of the ears of corn to be guided.

8. A corn hnsker comprisingl feeding mechanism and a yielding guide associated with said feeding mechanism and along which the butt ends of the ears of corn are adapted to travel, said guide yielding in a plane perpendicular to said feeding` mechanism.

9. A corn hnsker con'iprising feedin mechanism and a sectional guide havin g one of its sections yieldingly supported and arranged for self adjustment in a plane perpendicular to said feeding mechanism and along which the butt ends of ears of cern are adapted to travel.

10. A corn. hnsler comprising a feed table, feeding' mechanism adapted to feed ears of corn over and along said table, and a guide in a plane above said table and to one side of said feeding mechanism having sections capable of being elevated independently by the ears of corn moved along said table, the butt ends of the ears of corn being adapted to travel along said guide and in contact therewith.

11. In a corn hnslrer, a guide comprising two separate members arranged one above the other, 'the lover member having an upwardly and ontwardly-directed flange and the upper member having a downwardly and outwardly-directed flange spaced from the flange of the lower member and between which flanges the st lfs of ears of cor "ire adapted ears are in a feed table,

12. A corn huslzer comprising a feed table,

feeding mechanism adapted to cause ears of' corn to be moved over and along said table, a guide at one side of said feed table at least in part selfadjustable in a plane perpendicw lar to said table, and a batting device associated with said guide to cnt oft' the butts of the ears of corn.

13. A corn hnslzer comprising a feed table, feeding mechanism co-operating with said table, means for delivering ears of corn onto said feed table, a guide comprising an upper and a. lower section separated by a guide passage, said guide being in rear of said delivering means, and means for cutting off the butts from the ears of corn arranged in rear or said guide.

14. A corn husker comprising a receiving table7 a feed table beneath and spaced from said receiving table, a delivery chute at one end of said receiving table directed towards said feed table, and feeding means cooperating with said feed table.

15. A corn husker comprising a receiving table, a delivery chute at one end of said receiving table provided with retarding means to prevent the delivery of more than one ear of corn at a time from said chute.

16. A corn husker comprising a receiving table, a delivery chiite at one end of said receiving table, and a gate hinged to Said chute and provided with retarding means adapted to engage the corn passing from said chute.

17. In a corn husker, a receiving table, a delivery chute extending downwardly from said receiving table, a gate hinged to the rear wall of said chute and having forwardly projecting prongs thereon.

8. kIn a corn husker, a feed table, an endless feeding device having transversely-disposed bars passing along said feed table and between adjoining bars of which an ear of corn is to be deposited, and yielding retainer devices positioned over said feed table and adapted to retain the ears of corn against the table While they are being drawn forwardly by said transverse bars.

19. A corn. hnsker comprising a feed table, an endless feeding device having transverse bars movable along said feed table, and a pivoted retainer element adapted to bear downwardly against the ears of corn moved forward by said transverse bars.

20. In a corn husker, the combination of a feed table, a feeding device including transverse bars passing in spaced relation along said table, a pivoted retainer element positioned above said table, and a spring retainer element in rear yof said pivoted retainer element also positioned above said table, both retainers bearing downwardly against the 1(gars of 'corn carried along by said transverse are` en haetten the combination of a lOO feed table, endless feeding mechanism passing around said table and having transverse bars traveling in spaced relation to the upper surface of said table, a plurality of pivoted retainer members inclined downwardly and rearwardly and being positioned above said table to bear downwardly against ears of corn carried along by said transverse bars, and a plurality of flexible retainer members also positioned above said table in advance of said pivoted retainer members.

22. A corn husler comprising a feed table, feeding mechanism co-operating with said table, and a guide situated to one side of said feeding mechanism, said guide comprising an upper and a lower member spaced apart, said upper member comprising a plurality of sections individually movable in a vertical direction and vertically-adjustable together.

23. ln a corn husker, a guide comprising a continuous lower member and anupper member formed of a plurality of sections and a support for said sections, saidsupport having projecting pins and each of said sections having slots through which said. pins are passed, thereby enabling the sections to move vertically independently of each other.

24. ln a corn liuslrer, the combination of a feed table having transverse slots therein, means for feeding ears of corn along said table andy over said slots, a guide at one side of said table, and placer mechanism having parts operable through the slots of said table to engage theears of corn.

25. A corn husker comprising a feed table, means for feeding ears ofcorn along' said table, a guideV at one side ofsaid table, andy placer mechanism for moving andl retaining the ears of corn against said guide, said yplacerv mechanism being mounted for lateral .reciproeating movement.

2G. A corn huslrer comprising a feed table, means for feeding ears of corn along said table, a guide at one side of said table, and placer mechanism for moving and retaining the ears of corn against said guide, said placer mechanism being mounted forcembined lateral and, vertical movement.

27. In a corn huslrer, the combinationof a feed' table having transverse slots therethrough, blades transversely movable in said slots and having toothed upper edges, means for feeding ears of corn along said table, and a guide vat one side of said table against which thel ears of corn are moved andretainedby said toothed blades.

2S. In acorn huslrer, afeedtable. provided with transverse slots, a frameA arranged transversely underneathsaid vfeed table and having a bearingat each-side of the machine, eecentric shafts passing-through said bearings, means for rotating said shafts, andLt-ransversely-disposed blades toothed along their upper edges and securedtosaid frame, said blades being positioned within the transverse slots of said feed table.

29. ln a corn huslrer, the combination of a feed table having a series of transverse slots, a receiving table above said feed table having a chute extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom to deliver ears of corn onto said feed table in rear of said slots, feeding mechanism for moving the ears of corn along, said table, a guide at one side of said table substantially co-extensive with the slotted region thereof, a series of blades extending into said slotsand having toothed upper edges, and means for` impartinga combined vertical and transverse movement to said blades to cause the ears of corn to be moved and retained against said guide while fed along the feed table by, said feeding mechanism.

30. A corn liusker having a longitudinal feed'tahle provided with a series of transverse slots between its ends, means forfeec ing ears of corn along said feed table, a guide at one side of said feed table opposite said slots, feeding mechanism for moving ears of corn along saidtable, placer mechanism having parts adapted to move lengthwise and upwardly and downwardly through saidv slots, and means in rear of `saidguide for cutting off the butts of the ears ofcorn.

3l. A corn huslrer comprising side frame members, a longitudinal feed table secured to and between said side frame members, a placer` frame arranged transversely underneath said feedtable and extending through said sidemembers, eccentric means at opposite ends of'saidplacer frame for reciprocating the same. and simultaneously therewith imparting upward and downward movement thereto, spaced placer elements carried by said placer frame, and means for moving ears ofcorn along said feed table, said spaced placer elements engaging said ears of corn to move the same laterally with their butt ends yalined.

32. In a corn husking machine, means for cutting otl' the butts from; ears of corn, feeding mechanism to cause said earsof corn to travel past saidcutting means, means associated with said feeding mechanism movable upwardly and `laterally therethrough to move the butt ends ofthe ears of'corn in line with said cutting means, and means to regulate the last-mentioned movement of said ears of corn.

33. ln a corn husking machine, feed table having an opening, nieans for cutting olfv the butts from the ears of 'corn arranged at one side of said feed table, feeding mechanism includingtwo spacedchains lying at opposite sides of'said opening in said table, said feeding mechanism causing the ears of corn to travel lengthwise over said table while disposed transversely thereon, and a device operable through the opening in saidtable to engage the ears of'corn and move the same laera-lly over said table to bring the butt ends tliereel in line Wih said cutting means.

34. in a corn huslring machine, a feed table, means for cutting oil' the butts from the ears 5 of corn arranged a one side of said feed table, feeding mechanism to canse the ears of Corn ie travel lengthwise over said table While disposed transversely thereon, and a device operable upwardly through said table iO and having a combined vertical and lateral movement, said device being adapted to engage lthe ears oil' corn and move the same laterally inli'o position to be severed by said cutting means.

15 35. A corn hnsking machine, comprising a gage, a eonveyer for conveying ears of corn in cresswise position past said gage, means for Cutting oil' the butts from the ears of corn which is arranged beyond said gage and past which the ears el? corn are moved by said conveyer 'for severing the butts from the ears of corn, and placing means situated mainly wihin the conlines of said conveyor 'for moving the ears transversely of said conveyer and toward said gage before reaching said Cutting means comprising an elemenlI having movement toward and from said gage and adapted to engage the under side or the ears of Corn.

:30 3G. A corn husker comprising a feed table, feeding mechanism 'for feeding corn along said table, a guide associated with said feed table and feed mechanism and along which the hurl; ends o'l' ears of corn are adapted to 35 travel, said guide comprising upper and lower sections spaced apart to form a guide- Way for the corn, and said upper section being formed of sections disposed end to end and individually self-adjustable, and means 1 O for placing said ears of corn for bntting operation.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

CHARLES T. HOWSON. 

